Means for controlling feeding of paper from rolls

ABSTRACT

Feeding of paper web from rolls is controlled by adjusting drag bearings for roll spindle journals to effect balanced drag on rotation of the journals in the bearings, thereby enabling feeding of the paper by means of simplified feed roller arrangement wherein a single narrow frictional feed roller is centered on the web and the web automatically maintains centered relation to the feeding path by reason of the balanced tension on the web. A novel adjustment screw controlled drag device is provided in a bearing bracket adapted to be constructed as a molded one piece plastic part.

United States Patent [191 Wolff [4 June 11, 1974 MEANS FOR CONTROLLING FEEDING OF PAPER FROM ROLLS [75] Inventor: David F. Wolff, Glen Ellyn, ill. [73] Assignee: Yorktown Industries Inc., Addison,

Ill.

[22] Filed: May 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 257,219

[52] US. Cl. 242/75.4, 242/156 [51] Int. Cl B65h 23/06 [58] Field of Search 242/75.4, 75.43, 75.46, 242/75.47, 68, 129.6, 55.2, 55.3, 156

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 239,518 3/1881 Le. Roy 242/l29.6 1,544,145 6/1925 Foothorap 242/68 2,563,542 8/195] Mackelduff 242/75.4 X 2,747,807 5/1956 Hummel 242/55.2

Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert Assistant Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hill, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson 5 7 ABSTRACT Feeding of paper web from rolls is controlled by ad justing drag bearings for roll spindle journals to effect balanced drag on rotation of the journals in the bearings, thereby enabling feeding of the paper by means of simplified feed roller arrangement wherein a single narrow frictional feed roller is centered on the web and the web automatically maintains centered relation to the feeding path by reason of the balanced tension on the web. A novel adjustment screw controlled drag device is provided in a bearing bracket adapted to be constructed as a molded one piece plastic part.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures minnow" n mm 38151341 SHEET 20$ 2 MEANS FOR CONTROLLING FEEDING OF PAPER FROM ROLLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to controlling feeding of paper from rolls, and is especially adapted for copy making machines.

In feeding paper from rolls such as in copy making machines centering of the web in the feed path has always been a problem. Numerous and varied guiding devices, adjustable feed rollers, and the like have been proposed. In general, the prior devices and expedients have entailed complexities in design, sometimes have required complicated adjustment procedures, and have required additional and sometimes costly parts, increasing the overall cost of producing the apparatus or machines with which associated.

An important object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing and other disadvantages, deficiencies, inefficiencies, shortcomings and problems in prior methods and structures and to obtain important advantages and improvements in the control of feeding of paper from rolls, as will hereinafter become apparent.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for controlling feeding of paper webs from rolls.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for effecting balanced drag and tension on paper rolls from which the web is fed through feed rollers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for assuring selfcentering of paper web fed from rolls along a feed path.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved adjustable drag bearing structure for supporting paper roll spindles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a paper supply magazine of a copy making machine, embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line Il-Il of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary isometric view showing a spindle supporting bearing bracket structure embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevational detail view taken substantially in the plane of the line IV-IV in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a smaller scale sectional detail view taken substantially along the line VV of FIG. 4.

Having reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a paper roll having a web 11 of substantial width wound upon a tubular core 12 is depicted as mounted within a supply magazine 13 of a copy making machine which may be of the electrostatic type wherein the paper of the web 11 may be of a specially coated type adapted to be electrostatically charged to receive image of a design or text from an original, photographically transmitted by suitable lens system from an illuminated scanning aperture to an exposure aperture past which the web 11 or severed sheets thereof are transported for the purpose. Such machines are well known and details thereof are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, this explanation of utility for the paper fed from the roll 10 being given merely by way of example. Within the magazine 13 side wall panels 14 in spaced parallel relation contribute to defining a chamber normally closed by a hingedly mounted cover 15 over which is adapted to ride a carriage 17 where the associated machine is of the so-called book copier type for transporting an original past the scanning aperture of the machine. In FIG. 1 the cover 15 is shown in open position for access into the magazine chamber and in FIG. 2 the cover is shown in the closed position.

Means for supporting the roll 10 operatively in the magazine 13 comprise a spindle structure including a wire frame 18 (FIGS. 2 and 3) shown as having four equally spaced generally U-shaped members arranged to engage in reasonably close frictional fit within the core tube 12. Within the cage defined by the rollsupporting members of the spindle is mounted an adjustable device 19 for gauging a centered relation of the paper roll on the spindle to accommodate rolls of different preferred widths of paper web. For rotatable support of the spindle, it is provided at each opposite end with a coaxial journal 20.

Means for rotatably supporting the spindle 18 through its journals 20 are provided on the respective opposite side walls 14 and comprise preferably identical drag bearing structures 21. In a desirable, economical construction the bearing structures 21 are provided as one piece molded plastic members of a material which is self-sustaining and highly rigid in large sections but possessed of desirable resilience at least in small sections. Each of the members 21 has a relatively flattened body providing a pair of divergently upwardly extending arms 22 providing therebetween downwardly convergently related cam edges 23 defining a generally V-shaped throat for guiding the associated spindle journal during mounting into a vertical slot 24 slightly larger then the diameter of the journal and leading to a bearing dimensioned as a pocket of complementary arcuate shape within which the journal is supported rotatably, as in an upwardly facing seat.

Means for securing the members 21 fixedly to the associated wall panel 14 in position to receive the spindle journals desirably comprised respective attachment screws 27, the heads of which are adapted to be received in countersunk sockets 28 in the respective arms 22 about respective screw holes 29. In addition, each of the members 21 is desirably provided with an integral stud 30 projecting from the back of the member at a position below the bearing 25 and extending supportingly through a complementary hole 31 in the panel 14.

Means are provided for resiliently locking the journals 20 in the bearings 25 enabling deliberate pressure release thereof but retaining the journals against paper tension displacement of the spindle and supported roll. For this purpose, each bearing 25 comprises an arcuate bearing surface which is greater then l to provide a locking engagement with the respective journal 20, but each provided on a rigid portion of the member 21 which carries substantially less than of the bearing while the remainder of the bearing is carried by portions of the member which are relatively resiliently yieldable to enable the journal to be snapped into or out of position in the bearing. To this end, along one side of the passage provided by the vertical slot 24 to the bearing 25, there is provided an integral resiliently flexible bar 32 connected at its opposite ends to the body of the member 21 and separated therefrom intermediately by a clearance aperture 33. As will be observed in FIG. 4, the bar 32 slopes slightly inwardly and downwardly from juncture with the body of the bearing member near but spaced downwardly from the upper end of the slot 24 and is provided on its lower portion with a bearing segment 34 which in its upper portion provides with the remainder of the bar 32 a detent or interlock shoulder 35 which engagingly overlies the associated journal 20 above a horizontal diametrical plane therethrough. In mounting or removing the journal relative to the bearing 25, the interlock shoulder 35 is adapted to be resiliently yieldably thrust aside as indicated' by directional arrow by resilient yielding of the arm 32 and the bearing portion 34 thereof.

Cooperatively related with the bearing portion 34 and the interlock shoulder 35 is a generally complementary resiliently yieldable element 37 which may be similar to the bar 32, but which desirably comprises a free swinging resilient arm provided with a bearing portion 38 which is resiliently displaceable to enable an interlocking shoulder 39 and its upper end to be moved by the journal 20 passing thereby into or out of locking relation to the journal from a position slightly above the horizontal diametrical plane through the axis of the radius of curvature of the bearing. It will be appreciated, of course, that the spacing between the interlock shoulders 35 and 39 while less then the diameter of the journal sufficiently to enable the interlocking relationship desired, will be wide enough having regard to the resilient displaceability of the shoulders to enable passing of the journal therebetween in response to vertical pressure applied during assembly of the journal with the bearing or lifting face when removing the journal from the bearing.

In order to prevent overrunning of the roll in paying out the web 11, and further to provide a desirable drag on the journals to effect tension on the web as it is drawn from the roll, means are provided for stressing one of the bar 32 or the arm 37 toward the journal to thereby apply frictional drag through the portion of the bearing of the element which is thus stressed. Means for effecting the dragging action, in a simple form, comprise a screw 40 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5) which may be of the self-tapping type threadedly engaged in a suitable hole 41 in the wall panel 14 and having a tapered shoulder 42 on its head which will engage and camingly thrust the element engaged thereby. In a desirable arrangement, the resiliently displaceable arm 37 is provided with a head portion 43 directed laterally into a clearance recess 44 in the body of the member 21 of sufficient depth to accommodate the screw 40 in a manner to have the cam surface 42 ofits head overlie a complementary cam surface 45 on the inner end portion of the head 43. Thereby, by manipulating the screw 40 to drive the head shoulder 42 against the cam surface 45, caming of the head 43 and thereby the arm 37 toward the journal entrance slot gap and thus tilting the shoulder 39 and the bearing portion 38 toward and into dragging frictional relation with the engaged journal 20 is effected. By manipulation of the screw 40 accurate adjustment in the drag pressure against the journal is easily effected. As will be apparent in FIGS. 2 and 3, access to the head of the screw 40 by means of a 'suitable screwdriver is readily effected between the roll core engaging elements of the spindle, by virtue of the substantially offset relation of the position of the screw 40 relative to the spindle axis. In practice, a mutually balanced drag relationship of both of the bearing brackets is effected by suitable adjustment of the respective screws 40 relative to the bearing interlock and drag arms 37.

The ability to attain a balanced drag relationship in the spindle supporting bearings is important in the feed system for the web 11, whereby automatic centering of the web in a feed path is effected in operation. In a simple and direct feed arrangement, the web 11 is paid-out underhand from the roll 10 over a straightening bar 47 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and inserted into a feed roller system comprising a bottom idler roller 48 which may be at least as long as the width of the web 11 and underlie the same while a narrow centered friction roller 49 compresses the web against the roller 48 and is carried by a drive shaft 50 adapted to be continuously or intermittently driven in any suitable manner such as by means of a motor directly or through a clutch system in an known manner. Driving pull on the web 11 by action of the friction roller 49 causes the web to be drawn from the roll 10 and fed onwardly from the feed roller system. By virtue of the balanced drag on the spindle journals 20 and the centered relation of the feed roller 49, any tendancy for the web 11 to shift laterally is resisted and the web continuously maintained centered by action of the friction roller.49 thereon.

Beyond the roller 49, the web 1 1 passes under a gravitationally pivoted hold down plate 51 which presses the advancing web onto a horizontally supported shear blade 52 with which a rotary cut-off shear blade 53 cooperates for severing the advancing web into sheet length portions as controlled by means not shown in the operation of the associated machine after the sheet length portion of the web has been fed into a guide way Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as might reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for controlling feed of paper web from a roll mounted on a spindle having a journal;

a drag bearing structure for receiving the journal rotatably;

means for selectively adjusting drag of said bearing on the journal; and

said bearing structure comprising a one piece molded plastic member providing a bearing seat and including an integral resilient element providing said means for adjusting.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said element comprises an upwardly flaring guide throat for receiving the journal during assembly, a vertical slot passageway having a bearing seat at the bottom thereof. and said resilient element being located at one side of said passageway.

3. A device according to claim 2, including a resilient element on the opposite side of said passageway, and both of said elements providing interlock shoulders spaced apart less than the diameter of the journal and displaceable by resilient yielding of said elements in response to pressure exerted by the journal to pass the shoulders relative to said seat in assembling the journal with the seat or removing the journal relative to the seat.

4. Means for controlling feeding of a paper web from a roll, comprising:

a spindle on which a paper roll is mounted and having opposite end journals;

means defining an operating position for the paper roll carried by the spindle;

drag bearings in which said journals are engaged;

means for adjusting said bearings to effect a balanced drag on rotation of said journals in the bearings; and

resiliently displaceable locking shoulder means on said bearings engageable with said journals to hold the journals-in the bearings against unintentional displacement therefrom.

5. Means according to claim 4, including a feed roller system engaging the web and including an idler roller extending across the web and a centered driving friction roller acting on the web against the idler'roller.

6. Means according to claim 4, including feed rollers comprising an idler roller and a single narrow driving friction roller centered with respect to a paper feed path leading from said spindle and drivingly engaging the paper web along its longitudinal center against the idler roller, the balanced tensioning of the web assuring automatic centering of the web as drawn from the roll by operation of said feed rollers.

7. In a device for controlling feed of paper web from a roll mounted on a spindle having a journal:

a drag bearing structure for receiving the journal rotatably;

means for selectively adjusting drag of said bearing on the journal; and

resiliently yieldable interlock means engageable with the journal to avoid unintentional displacement of the journal from the bearing structure.

8. in a device for controlling feed of paper web from a roll mounted on a spindle having a journal:

a drag bearing structure for receiving the journal rotatably and comprising a one piece plastic member having a journal-receiving bearing seat;

integral means on the member for releasably locking the journal against leaving said seat;

drag means comprising an integral displaceable element on the member; and

means on said displaceable element for engagement by an adjusting device to move the element into frictional drag relation to the journal engaged on said seat.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said means engageable by an adjusting device includes a cam surface engageable by a tapered shoulder of an adjusting screw serving as said device.

10. In a device for controlling feed of paper web from a roll mounted on a spindle having a journal:

a drag bearing structure in the form of a one piece plastic member having a journal receiving bearing seat; and

an integral resiliently flexible element on the member for releasable locking engagement with the journal to hold the journal in place on said seat.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said member has an upwardly opening passage to said seat,

and said locking element is located at one side of said passage.

12. A device according to claim 11, including a second integral resilient interlock element engageable with the journal at the opposite side of said passage. 

1. In a device for controlling feed of paper web from a roll mounted on a spindle having a journal; a drag bearing structure for receiving the journal rotatably; means for selectively adjusting drag of said bearing on the journal; and said bearing structure comprising a one piece molded plastic member providing a bearing seat and including an integral resilient element providing said means for adjusting.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said element comprises an upwardly flaring guide throat for receiving the journal during assembly, a vertical slot passageway having a bearing seat at the bottom thereof, and said resilient element being located at one side of said passageway.
 3. A device according to claim 2, including a resilient element on the opposite side of said passageway, and both of said elements providing interlock shoulders spaced apart less than the diameter of the journal and displaceable by resilient yielding of said elements in response to pressure exerted by the journal to pass the shoulders relative to said seat in assembling the journal with the seat or removing the journal relative to the seat.
 4. Means for controlling feeding of a paper web from a roll, comprising: a spindle on which a paper roll is mounted and having opposite end journals; means defining an operating position for the paper roll carried by the spindle; drag bearings in which said journals are engaged; means for adjusting said bearings to effect a balanced drag on rotation of said journals in the bearings; and resiliently displaceable locking shoulder means on said bearings engageable with said journals to hold the journals in the bearings against unintentional displacement therefrom.
 5. Means according to claim 4, including a feed roller system engaging the web and including an idler roller extending across the web and a centered driving friction roller acting on the web against the idler roller.
 6. Means according to claim 4, including feed rollers comprising an idler roller and a single narrow driving friction roller centered with respect to a paper feed path leading from said sPindle and drivingly engaging the paper web along its longitudinal center against the idler roller, the balanced tensioning of the web assuring automatic centering of the web as drawn from the roll by operation of said feed rollers.
 7. In a device for controlling feed of paper web from a roll mounted on a spindle having a journal: a drag bearing structure for receiving the journal rotatably; means for selectively adjusting drag of said bearing on the journal; and resiliently yieldable interlock means engageable with the journal to avoid unintentional displacement of the journal from the bearing structure.
 8. In a device for controlling feed of paper web from a roll mounted on a spindle having a journal: a drag bearing structure for receiving the journal rotatably and comprising a one piece plastic member having a journal-receiving bearing seat; integral means on the member for releasably locking the journal against leaving said seat; drag means comprising an integral displaceable element on the member; and means on said displaceable element for engagement by an adjusting device to move the element into frictional drag relation to the journal engaged on said seat.
 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said means engageable by an adjusting device includes a cam surface engageable by a tapered shoulder of an adjusting screw serving as said device.
 10. In a device for controlling feed of paper web from a roll mounted on a spindle having a journal: a drag bearing structure in the form of a one piece plastic member having a journal receiving bearing seat; and an integral resiliently flexible element on the member for releasable locking engagement with the journal to hold the journal in place on said seat.
 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said member has an upwardly opening passage to said seat, and said locking element is located at one side of said passage.
 12. A device according to claim 11, including a second integral resilient interlock element engageable with the journal at the opposite side of said passage. 